REVIEWS

FANZINE REVIEWS

"PUNK & OI IN THE UK WEBSITE"
THE RED EYES - ON PRESCRIPTION (FALLING DOWN RECORDS)

Now I've heard of this band but never heard anything by them.
I now know they are from Glasgow and were formed in 1997. They play
'77-style melodic Punk / New Wave a la The Boys, Leighton Buzzards, etc.
This is a cracking album! It's been quite a while since I've heard an album
that I like on first play but this had me hooked from the first track.
I'll be definitely checking out this band again.
PAUL

"THE ORIGINAL SIN - No 29"
THE RED EYES - UP TO OUR EYES IN IT

Mighty lord!!! If you hear this album you can only come to one conclusion-
"They must be in love with Stiff Little Fingers" and reading their biog, you
know they are.they've even supported them. If Stiff Little Fingers sound
like Arabic for you then I can say it like this: "80's punk that became
immortal 'cos it was more about melodies rather than attitude". Not that
attitude wasn't important or so but it's not because you're wearing a "No
Future" badge that you can claim you're a great musician! The Red Eyes
understand this and they might look like ordinary people but the punk-factor
is in their music. Some songs ("What The Censor Saw" for instance) would fit
fine on those albums "Classic Punk from the 80's" you play now and then -
and that is a victory. Great Punk Rock album, boys!!!

"RIPPING THRASH - Issue 20"
THE RED EYES - UP TO OUR EYES IN IT

A self released CD album from this Scottish band. Tuneful punk rock is the
order of the day here. Some good and catchy tracks, but other tracks are a
bit too "light", more anger and aggression wouldn't go amiss. Some tracks
seem to have more of a rocky feel to them. I dunno' if anyone remembers 'em,
but they remind me of Welsh band Blind Justice from a few years back, they
also had a kind of soft sound while still sounding punk rock. Lyrics on this
are OK, stuff about TV and the wastefulness of society around us. Not bad,,
but won't be everyone's cup of tea.

"BALD CACTUS - # 17"
THE RED EYES - UP TO OUR EYES IN IT

The Red Eyes play music similar to bands like the Guitar Gangsters, ie; sort
of mid-paced tuneful punk totally influenced by post "Inflammable Material"
S.L.F and post "Teenage Warning" Upstarts ( The song "Red Eyes" is in fact a
total rip-off of the Upstarts "I Wanna' Knighthood"). A few guitar leads
here and there among what to me is just foot tapping, head nodding
background music. Well produced but it doesn't do much for me. 4/10

"AGAINST ALL ODDS - Issue 4"
THE RED EYES - UP TO OUR EYES IN IT

A new band to me but they've supported the likes of Stiff Little Fingers. I
was lent the C.D. and on most part it was great. You can tell they're well
into S.L.F. but some tunes are a tad more rockier. Tracks that stood out for
me were "The Grass Is Always Greener", "Red Eyes", and "Good Riddance".
Check them out!!! 8/10

"GET A LIFE - Issue 8"
THE RED EYES - UP TO OUR EYES IN IT

The Red Eyes have started to establish a following amongst SLF fans
following their live performances supporting SLF last March, where their
energetic & catchy set grabbed the attention of the crowd. In particular
their hometown show at Glasgow Barrowlands stands out, never before have I
seen a band supporting ( not including festivals) get such a great reaction
both when playing and at the merchandise stall afterwards. This year The Red
Eyes will again be supporting SLF at the Barrowlands so make sure you get
there early and don't miss them. Last September The Red Eyes went into the
studio to record their debut album entitled "Up To Our Eyes In It."
When I reviewed the band's demo tape, I gave it 5/5 but that was just a
demo tape and that is the perspective I reviewed it from. This is the real
thing - a professionally produced CD featuring the band's live favourites
alongside some newer material. The album kicks off with the sound of a noisy
pub to give it that atmosphere and some people might mistake it for a live
album but it soon kicks in to their drinking anthem "Alco-fuelled" which
sounds so much better than the demo version. Two more songs from the
original demo tape follow, the great two chord "Posted Missing" and my
personal favourite from the original demo "Last Days Of Your Life" with its
excellent catchy riff, clever rhyming and good solo. Track 4 is the band ode
to the tabloids such as the Daily Sport or News of the World. Next is my
personal favourite from the album "The Grass Is Always Greener" which I
think is a potential hit (any record company execs out there, check this
out). By this stage it has become apparent that Alan's voice has improved
since the demo. Next up is the self-titled Upstarts-esque "Red Eyes"
followed by the catchy "The Daydreamer". "Good Riddance" is another one of
my faves off the album, pop-punk at its best. The band then show their
reggae influences with the superb "It's Criminal" with a great brass
section. I love the way the song speeds up going into the chorus. The album
really kicks back into pop-punk territory with "Take A Good Look" which has
a great drum intro and a superb chorus with stop-start guitars. "Yesterday's
Hero" has undergone some surgery since the original demo version and is very
SLF-y. The album finishes off with what was essentially an experimental song
"What The Censor Saw" which features some really good bass work. I've been
told this song sounds even better live.
All in all this is a great pop-punk album and really deserves to have a
record company behind it giving it that extra push. All really catchy songs
and showing quite a diversity of styles. If you can't catch this band at the
Barrowlands in March, watch out for them playing live and DEFINITELY buy
this album.

"SAVAGE AMUSEMENT - Issue 12"
THE RED EYES - UP TO OUR EYES IN IT

This kicks off in melodic 77 punk style with "Alco-Fuelled" before going
downhill very fast with two awful indie rock numbers. And then (last song
aside) it's back to tuneful 77 punk, lifting tunes from bands as diverse as
The Crack and Department S on the way. These have the potential, all they
need is to crank things up a notch and get rid of the pop/rock vocals (not
only do they gig with SLF, it sounds like they've been listening to their
recent albums, thus spoiling what could have been a really good CD).

"RUNNIN' FEART -Issue 8"
THE RED EYES - ON PRESCRIPTION

This is The Red Eyes 2nd D.I.Y. CD and it's just as good as the last one,
some great melodic tunes on this CD, my favourites are "I Can't Get" and
"Split Personality".

"RIOT ON YOUR OWN - (10)"
THE RED EYES - ON PRESCRIPTION

Straight outta'1979, good old fashioned punky new wave with hooklines all
over the show. The first two tracks "Wake-Up Call" and "Something In The
Way" are belters with sing-along chorus's and everything. There after it
tends to drop off the pace every so often. Still pretty good though and
typical of what punk WAS all about, independently released, street music
without a hint of anarchogrind to cover up musical ineptitude and crap
lyrics.

"A RIOT DOWN THE LANE" - Comp CD"
THE RED EYES - "WAKE-UP CALL" ( Taken from the CD album-
-ON
PRESCRIPTION )

Got their CD "On Prescription" thru' the post and was well impressed. Good
old-fashioned new-wave style punk rock, laden with hook lines all over the
bloody place.
They incidently were the first band to agree to donate a track to this CD.
Ta lads.

"CODEYE - 9"
THE RED EYES - ON PRESCRIPTION

Fucking ace. This is what we want more of in the pages of CODEYE. If more
bands were as good as THE RED EYES it would make my life easy. 1977 style
Punk with a modern touch to it.12 sing-along classics and not a bad one in
sight.

"SAVAGE AMUSEMENT -No 15"
THE RED EYES - ON PRESCRIPTION

Music for the "SLF gig" generation. Melodic punk with a rock edge. Lyrics in
the vein of The Guitar Gangsters. The Red Eyes can play, write good tunes,
and - as far as "personal" lyrics go, are pretty good at it. But they put me
in mind of a pub covers band ( the type who mix The Pistols, The Stones and
Sabbath in the same set) that finally got round to writing their own stuff.
This gets off to a good start with the songs "Wake-Up Call" and "Something
In The Way", but gradually loses it's way. There's an instrumental. Some
songs cross the thin punk/rock line, and some of the backing vocals had me
cringing as if it were Keith Harris & Orville doing a Xmas song. To sum it
up, it needs a bit of controversy. A bit of an edge. A bit of DANGER. 3/5

"4 MINUTE WARNING - Issue 4"
THE RED EYES - ON PRESCRIPTION

Yes the front cover of this CD includes a photo of this Scottish band,
wearing white coats. Thankfully they're not mad scientists or trainee
shrinks, but a punk band that have dug deep into their punk rock past. The
Red Eyes play their brand of punk rock in the style of Chelsea, think "Urban
Kids" and "The Loner", and it's not a bad thing either as most street punk
bands these days seem to only copy one style, so it's good to hear The Red
Eyes take a slightly different path. They've already supported The
Vibrators, SLF and U.K. Subs. Tracks on this CD. Include "Wake-Up Call",
"The Black Box", "Bad Girl", and "Bullshit Detector" ( no we're not talking
Crass here ).
Check out this album and the rest of The Red Eyes back catalogue.

"RANT - No 3"
THE RED EYES - ON PRESCRIPTION

12 Tracks of 80's style new wave crashing into the camps of a very melodic
version of The Members, springs to mind. Certain melodies on offer come
close to treading the boards of the softer Mod that was about back then. The
production is very good, but a little too sanitized in my opinion. Despite
this you get solid bass lines and well structured vocals and guitar, the
cream of the crop being "Bullshit Detector", "I Cant Get" and the opening
track "Wake-Up Call". Those seeking out melodic pop-punk will like this.

"BARBIES DEAD - Issue No 4"
THE RED EYES - ON PRESCRIPTION

12 Trax. Dropped thru' the letter box in time to meet the deadline. This is
one of the examples of what doing a fanzine is all about-----freebies and
the introduction to NEW bands. Makes you feel like the minor league John
Peel. It's always a thrill to know that the communication network of zines
is alive and well and obviously working. Many thanks to the band for sending
this to me. It does work both ways as the immense amount of publicity it
will now receive almost ensures superstar status for The Red Eyes now. So
stop jabbering and review it then. Firstly, this to me is a refreshing
change, in fact a bit of a throwback. To give reference points I would say
Chelsea ( partic the vocals ) and Dr Feelgood. Also maybe think early
Chiswick stuff ( all you fellow OAP punx ), Little Bob Story / Gorillas
even. Solid sounding CD. The band are all kitted out in their Doctors gear
on the front cover and you also get a lyric sheet. All fine numbers except
"Bad Girl" which is a reminder of awful poodle-permed HM bands from the 80'
s, one of the worst being Plymouth smarms Karralon. Otherwise a good album.
Ta again.

"JELLYBRAIN - No 10"
THE RED EYES - ON PRESCRIPTION

Did this band have something to do with an SLF tribute band? I'm not sure,
but there's a bit of an influence in there anyway. I'm sure I'm safe to say
that this would probably be more up the alley of lovers of early UK punk.
But that's not to say it doesn't sound fresh, cos' it does, and they
certainly know their way around a good song or twelve. "The Black Box" has a
Slaughter & The Dogs feel to it, showing where they're coming from, and this
gets a resounding thumbs up from the Jellybrain board of censors.

"HERE BE MONSTERS - No 24"
THE RED EYES - ON PRESCRIPTION

Nice to see these chaps back again and still churning out their own take on
chirpy 80's styled street punk - here made all the better coz they're
captured really well ( like even on CD there's a slightly distorted edge
! ). 12 Tracks.

"WORLD POWER OR RUIN - 2001"
THE RED EYES - ON PRESCRIPTION

The Red Eyes are heavily influenced by late 70's "British New Wave" and
formed in Glasgow, Scotland May 1997. Glad to say they've come on a load
since their disappointing debut "Up To Our Eyes In It" released back in
1998. They were then just a squeaky clean bland outfit who were about as
exciting as contracting a dose of the pox in the Clydebank tenements. But
over 2 years later they've cleaned up their act or should I say polished it
with "On Prescription". They've returned to produce a slick album with some
good touches. These 12 snappy tunes can even give an uncultured swine like
me a much needed dose of medication. So there's hope boys even though the
sickly smell of pop is still lingering in a lot of the tracks. It's
camouflaged cleverly by addictive tunes coated with an easy on the ear
style. Main man ( Phil Mitchell look-alike ) and key singer/songwriter Alan
Bishop, still gives us that semi-gruff Welleresque vocal style. But he's
still missing a ??????????? get excited about. He more than makes up for
this setback in his confident song writing credits. And another noticeable
improvement is the inclusion of new lead guitarist, the roly poly James 'H'
Hirshall. He's definitely made his mark on the band. And those sometimes
hilarious hi-pitched, but memorable backing vocals give some of the better
tracks a new dimension. Take "Bad Girl" probably their best track on here.
Which is in typical throwaway pop punk territory but done with suss and
worthy of a bigger audience. The Red Eyes sing about everyday life mainly
involving dysfunctional girls ( they wish !). So no deep meaningful
preaching here just escapist fun. And you know
What? You sometimes need that dimension in punk. They're accomplished
musicians no doubt, but they still ain't managed to capture or combine the
power of songs like "I Can't Get" or the addictive "Bullshit Detector" into
more of their set. Pity because it would give them way more scope. They've
got a slight feel of The Jam's "This Is The Modern World" album on some
numbers like "Forever" or R'n'B "(It's Not) The End Of The World" which
sounds good. However they're most accomplished track musically is the epic
slow burner "Who's Sorry Now". All about a hit 'n' run which has depth
without getting too self-indulgent. You might need to play this a few times
before you get the feel, but it's worth it. One tip boys, leave yerself off
the front cover next time as I doubt even the most delinquent bird would
entertain Red Eyes on prescription. Comes with lyrics and is released on
the band's own label so fair play for determination.

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